Press Release
Aug 16, 2019
DENVER – Gina Hollenbeck, a stage IV lung cancer survivor and an advocate for ALK Positive (ALK+) Outreach from Collierville, Tenn., will be recognized by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) at the IASLC 2019 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Barcelona, Spain. Hollenbeck and ALK+ will accept the Advocate Travel Award, an award given to five individuals or organizations to help them attend and participate in the IASLC WCLC.
When Hollenbeck was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015, it changed her life, forcing her to step back from work and move into a part-time capacity. Three years later, she quit her job and became the fundraising chair of ALK+, an advocacy group for people with ALK+ lung cancer. She believed that this could help save her life.
A few months after joining, she was elected President of ALK+. In her role as president, she is dedicated to promoting lung cancer research, biomarker testing, early detection and screening, and appropriate treatment to extend lung cancer patients’ lives.
“My hope is that we can make lung cancer a chronically managed disease, with the ultimate goal of curing lung cancer,” says Hollenbeck.
Though she is the president of ALK+, Hollenbeck advocates for all lung cancer patients. She is happy to connect with lung cancer patients in her own community to share experiences and support others through this journey.
“I am so thankful to be able to represent this highly motivated group. Hopefully, through research, we can make this a chronically managed disease with the ultimate goal of finding a cure,” states Hollenbeck.
As an Advocate Travel Award recipient, Hollenbeck and ALK+ will receive complimentary conference registration, a fixed monetary stipend to help offset travel costs, four nights’ accommodation at one of the conference contracted hotels and free IASLC membership for 2020, allowing Hollenbeck to continue her advocacy and push for research in lung cancer.
About the WCLC:
The WCLC is the world’s largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting more than 7,000 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer, and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. The conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit wclc2019.iaslc.org.
About the IASLC:
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes more than 7,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.